Background
Coquillett, Daniel William was born on January 23, 1856 in McHenry Company, Illinois, United States. Son of Francis Marquis Lafayette and Sarah Ann (Cokelet) Coquillett.
Coquillett, Daniel William was born on January 23, 1856 in McHenry Company, Illinois, United States. Son of Francis Marquis Lafayette and Sarah Ann (Cokelet) Coquillett.
Educated district school. Studied entomology and kindred sciences at home at odd moments, principally at night.
School, 1876; prepared, 1880, for Tenth Annual Rept., state entomologist of Illinois, a descriptive paper on the caterpillars of the United States, with analytical keys to groups and species. Contributor on applied entomology Germantown Telegraph, 2 years. Assistant state entomologist of Illinois, 1881, and wrote major portion Eleventh Annual Rept.
Removed to Southern California, 1882.
Assisted Matthew Cooke on two works on entomology, 1883. Investigated, 1885, for United States Department of Agriculture, outbreak of destructive grasshoppers in Central California and perfected method for destroying them by use of poisoned mash.
Also investigated for same, 1886, cottony cushion scale insect, infesting citrus trees in Southern California. Investigation suspended August, 1886, for want of funds.
Experimented on own account with poisonous gases for destroying these and other noxious insects on trees and plants, inaugurating the hydrocyanic gas treatment.
From 1887 in employ United States Department of Agriculture. Assistant entomologist, September since 1893. Removed to Washington, 1893.
Appointed, 1896, honorary custodian diptera, United States National Museum.